By Tom Marshall

The Argentine has helped Tijuana to unprecedented success in Mexico's top flight and in the Copa Libertadores but could return to his native country to be closer to his family.

Coach Antonio Mohamed has turned Club Tijuana from relegation-strugglers to Liga MX champions and a team faring well in the Copa Libertadores, but he could be set to leave the Xolos hot seat after the season comes to an end.

Sources close to the coach told Goal.com Mexico that Mohamed is pining for a return to Argentina to where his family is still based. That would be in line with what Mohamed said during the fall, prior to Tijuana capturing the Liga MX Apertura championship.

"(Staying) depends on my children and nothing else," Mohamed stated back last October. "If they come to live with me here in Mexico, I’ll stay. If not, I don’t want to be further away from them."

The former Independiente coach was clearly contemplating returning to South America after the title-winning season, but the allure of a shot at the Copa Libertadores was a temptation too much. With the continental competition now in the knockout stage and Tijuana outside the playoff places in the Liga MX, the question of Mohamed’s permanence has again cropped up.

The same sources told Goal.com Mexico that inside the squad, it is an open secret that Mohamed is set to leave and that the board is sounding out candidates to replace the Argentine.

Tijuana hosts Palmeiras in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16 on Tuesday, April 30.